Amit Shah in 1800 WhatsApp groups of Delhi BJP to ‘stem fake news’

The co-incharge of Delhi BJP’s social media unit said each WhatsApp group will have contact numbers of Amit Shah and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari.

The Delhi BJP has formed hundreds of WhatsApp groups with its national president Amit Shah as a member in each of them for providing “direct information” and stem fake news.

BJP president Amit Shah addresses the gathering during national conference on Reforming Agrarian Economy: Role of Insurance, at India International Center in New Delhi on July 21. (Sushil Kumar/HT PHOTO)

In the run-up to the 2019 general elections, BJP’s Delhi unit leaders are revising teams upto Mandal-level and bringing the party office bearers and workers on various social media platforms, including WhatsApp.

“We are trying to bring all the party office bearers and workers on social media platforms. So far, over 1800 WhatsApp groups have been formed and the number is increasing. The move is aimed to provide direct information and stem fake news,” said Neelkant Bakshi, Head (media relations) and co-incharge of Delhi BJP’s social media unit.

Each WhatsApp group will have contact numbers of Shah and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, he said.

In a meeting last month, Shah had cautioned social media savvy workers and his party leaders against posting fake news and spreading false messages on social media platforms, saying it hurt the party’s credibility.

The WhatsApp groups formed by the Delhi BJP will go in long way to ensure that the party’s directions and assignments are being undertaken sincerely by its office bearers and workers, Bakshi said.

The party has also planned social media meets to be held at district and Mandal levels in the coming months to spread the messages of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and achievements of the BJP-led government at the Centre, he said.

Focus will be to reach out to the younger generation that depends more on social media for information and news than traditional sources like newspapers and television channels, he added.